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I read in the Hendersonville Daily Planet’s Opinion column (the newspaper’s editorial) which stated the opinion that (U.S.) Sen. John Fetterman is the greatest Democrat since JFK.
In my opinion, the greatest Democrat since JFK was JFK’s younger brother, Bobby Kennedy.
Why exactly?
Because Bobby Kennedy was an impassioned moral crusader and social justice warrior who supported the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the marginalized, the disenfranchised, the invisible members of society, the blacks and other people of color.
Bobby Kennedy supported the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, the Mexican farm workers, the Chicano movement, the Indian rights movement, the prisoner rights movement, the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.
And because Bobby Kennedy felt as impassioned about the poor and hungry and homeless and marginalized and disenfranchised and the invisible members of society as Jesus did.
And because Bobby Kennedy was the equal of Jesus, as a moral activist — and as a cause-fighter and as a righter-of-wrongs and as a social justice warrior.
RICHARD D. POPE
Hendersonville, N.C.
Fossil fuel profits pit national interest against human interest
Political activist Noam Chomsky was once asked if the United States acts in the national interest.
He replied that no nation acts in its national interest. That’s a term of propaganda.
He added that nations act in the interests of powerful internal groups that control policy.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the Trump administration’s “Drill, baby, drill!” mantra, its efforts to gain control over Venezuelan oil, and President Trump’s recent meeting with major oil executives at the White House.
Notably, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright previously served as CEO of Liberty Energy, North America’s second-largest fracking company.
Similarly, Rex Tillerson, secretary of state during Trump’s first term, was formerly chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, the world’s largest non-government-owned oil company.
Trump even called on oil executives to donate $1 billion to his 2024 election campaign, and members of Congress are estimated to hold up to $93 million in fossil fuel stocks.
When fossil fuel profits drive both foreign and domestic policy, it’s the world’s most vulnerable people — and the planet — who pay the price.
TERRY HANSON
Grafton, Wisc.
Happy New Year!... and happy Gen. Robert E. Lee's birthday!
Hope everybody has a Happy New Year — and have a wonderful (Confederate General Robert E.) Lee’s birthday on the 19th of this month!
JOHN BROWN
Hendersonville, N.C.
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